IES86461Y1 - A formed convection panel for inset solid fuel stoves - Google Patents

Description

A formed convection panel inset heating apparatus Field of invention The present invention relates to an improvement of the prior art that uses the principle of convection to redirect heat lost from a heating apparatus piaced in a fireplace cavity. More particularly the present invention relates to increasing the concealed surface area of a heating apparatus where the heat is lost by attaching a formed convection panel. The formed convection panel boosts heat recovery otherwise lost by creating a circulating current of heated air between the heating apparatus and an outer casing and increases the overall heating capacity of the heating apparatus.

Background to Invention Open fireplaces are very inefficient as a form of providing heat in a room and replacing these with a heating apparatus like a stove but not restricted to a stove is a common and logical action. A stove is normally fitted into an existing fireplace or wall cavity as a replacement of a more efficient heating means for an open fire. The problem with a heating apparatus like a stove is that aithough it is more efficient than an open fire, much of the heat emitted is absorbed into the fabric of the building material of the cavity it is housed within. This generally only leaves the front section of the heating apparatus to radiate heat from. Existing heating apparatus fitted in an existing open fireplace can be very inefficient as a greater surface area of heat is directed to the inset wall cavity sides.

As a measure to counter-act this, there is prior art of heating apparatus mounted within an outer casing and then installed into a wall cavity. The air space between the outer casing and the heating apparatus captures much of the heat lost from the encapsulated portion of the stove and vents this back into the room using the principle of natural convection.

Prior art incorporates a fan and the principle becomes forced convection. The problem with forced convection is that due to dust and vibration a fan requires maintenance S86461 and can become noisy after a period of time. The fan may often become blocked with dust and there is an added electrical cost associated with its installation and operation.

There are three factors that influence the level of output of the stove due to convection, they are; 1) The heat transfer coefficient of the material, which is a value determined from physics calculations for different materials. In the case of a heating apparatus like a stove, the heat transfer coefficient is that of the material used in the construction of the stove body. Its unit of measure is Watts per square metre per degree Kelvin (Wrm2K). 2) The exposed surface area available for convection. For an inset stove in a fireplace cavity this is the surface area of the stove housed within the outer casing. it is represented in square metres (m2). 3) The third factor to be considered when determining convection output is the absolute temperature difference between the surface of the heating apparatus and the surrounding air measured in degrees Kelvin.

These three key factors are used in Newton's Law of Cooling to calculate a convection value in Watts. Newtons’ law of cooling is q=hcAAT Where q = heat transferred per unit time (W) A = heat transfer area of the surface (m*) ho: convective heat transfer coefficient (Wfm2K) ./_ii'' = temperature difference between the surface and the air (K) It can be noted from the equation that the size of the heated surface area for convection air is directly proportional to the total heat transferred. This means that if the surface area is increased the result is more heat is transferred to the passing air.

As a result an efficient heating means by using the convection principle that solves the aforementioned problems is desired.

Statement of the Invention The purpose of the invention is to provide a more efficient heating apparatus in a fireplaceiwall cavity by using the principle of convection to transfer lost heat from the inset walls of the fireplace or wail cavity into the room. More particularly the present invention relates to increasing the concealed surface area of a heating apparatus by attaching a formed convention panel to provide more heat to transfer into the passing air.

According to the invention there is provided a convection panel attached to a heating apparatus mounted internally in an outer casing according to claim 1 and a method of providing more heat from a heating apparatus placed in a fireplacerwall cavity according to claim 16.

According to the main embodiment of the invention there is provided a formed convection panel attached to a heating apparatus comprising of a formed series of indentations. The formed indentations increase the surface area of the concealed side of the heating apparatus providing more heat to transfer by the principle of the convection. The formed convection panel increases the overall heating capacity of a heating apparatus.

According to the invention the formed convection panel may comprise of various formations, rolled extrusions or any suitable design in order to increase the surface area available for convection heat transfer. The formed convection panel may also comprise of various sizes and material thickness.

In one embodiment the formed convection panel can be a unitary construction with a heating apparatus.

In another embodiment the formed convection panel is detached from the heating apparatus and can be easily attached to any existing heating apparatus like a steel bodied stove by any suitable mechanism means.

According to the invention the formed convection panel attached to the heating apparatus may be securely housed, partially or entirely, within an outer casing.

The second main component if the invention relates to the outer casing that a heating apparatus with the attached fonned convection panel will be fitted inside. The main embodiment of the outer casing aims to prevent the heat escaping into the fireplacerwall cavity. The outer casing may be available in various sizes to fit inside a fireplaceiwali cavity and suitable to contain various heating means.

The heating apparatus is inserted into the outer casing in the fireplace/wall cavity and allows sufficient air space between the heating apparatus and the outer casing surface.

The outer casing may be constructed from sheet metal or any suitable material.

In another embodiment of the outer casing the top, rear and sides may be externally insulated with ceramic fibre blanket or any suitable material. The insulation may prevent heat transfer into the walls of a fireplacelwall cavity. in one embodiment the base of the outer casing may comprise of formed legslsupport for the heating apparatus to be mounted on. The legsisupport may be comprised of various formations like an opened rectangle shape that can allow air to flow through it and circulate outside the heating apparatus and inside the outer casing.

In another embodiment the legs/support may be constructed of a detached component that can be placed underneath a heating apparatus and can be placed at The detached legslsupport may allow air to flow freely underneath the heating apparatus. any location to securely mount or position the heating apparatus.

The legs/support may vary in different sizes depending on the requirement of support and air flow underneath the heating apparatus.

The legs/support may be positioned in the base and sides to securely mount the heating apparatus inside the outer casing.

The legsisupport may comprise of a securing means to mount the heating apparatus to the outer casing.

Brief Description of the Drawings These and other characteristics of the invention will be clear from the following description of a preferential form of embodiment, given as a non-restrictive example, with reference to the attached drawing wherein: Figure 1 illustrates a side elevation of the heating apparatus 4 mounted internally in the outer casing 1.

Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of the formed convection panel 2 attached to a heating apparatus 4.

A detailed description follows of a preferential embodiment with reference to the attached drawings.

Referring to Figure 1, the heating apparatus is mounted inside the outer casing 1.

The heating apparatus 4 with attached formed convection panel 2 is placed on legs/support 3 on the base of the outer casing 1. The outer casing 1 allows for sufficient air space between the heating apparatus 4 with attached formed convection panel 2 and the outer casingt walls. Sufficient convection air space allows the principle of Newtons' Law of convention air to efficiently transfer and distribute heat in room OI’ area.

In one embodiment the air space measurements between the heating apparatus 4 and the outer casing 1 wall may not all be of equal distance. More particularly the air space measurement between the top of the heating apparatus 4 to the top of the outer casing 1 may be smaller than the other convention air space side measurements.

The formed convection panels may be constructed of a formed sheet metal or of any suitable material.

In one embodiment the formed convection panel 2 may be constructed as a detached panel that can be attached to any existing heating apparatus. The detached formed convection panel may be attached to the heating apparatus 4 by any suitable means. in one embodiment the outer casing 1 may comprise of an aperture 5 for a chimney or any means of carrying off smoke from the heating apparatus.

In another embodiment of the outer casing 1 may be insulated with ceramic fibre blanket or any suitable insulated means. The insulation may provide a more efficient heating means.

Referring to figure 2 the formed convection panel 2 comprises of a formation of indentations to increase the surface area at the concealed back or sides of a heating apparatus to enhance heat. The indentations may comprise of various formation designs, or extrusions or various sizes and material thickness Referring again to figure 2 the formed convection panel 2 may be constructed of cast iron or suitable material as an unitary construction with the heating apparatus 4.

In one embodiment the base of the outer casing 1 may comprise of legslsupport 3 for the heating apparatus 4 to be mounted on. The legsisupport 3 may comprise of various designs like an open shape that can allow air to flow through it and circulate outside the heating apparatus and inside the outer casing. The convection air allows for extra heat to be transferred and directed out from the heating apparatus. The iegsfsupport 3 may not obstruct the flow of convection air.

In another embodiment the legsllsupport 3 may comprise of a detached construction from the outer casing 1 that can be easily manoeuvred underneath any heating means to support the heating apparatus 4 and allow convention air to flow freely underneath the heating apparatus 4.

The legslsupport 3 may vary in different sizes depending on the requirement of support and air flow underneath the heating apparatus 4.

The legsfsupport 3 may be positioned in the base and sides of the outer casing 1 to securely mount the heating apparatus 4 inside the fireplace outer casing 1.

In the foregoing description only certain embodiments of the invention have been described. The present invention however is not limited to the embodiments described or illustrated, as modifications, equivalents, alternative materials and additions that can be contemplated by those skilled in the art shall also be considered as falling within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (5)

Claims

1. A formed convection panel inset heating apparatus comprising: a formed convection panel attached to a heating apparatus: an outer casing.

2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein the said formed convection panel comprises of a detached formed convection panel that may be attached to the heating apparatus by any suitable means.

3. The invention according to claims 1 or 2 wherein the said formed convection panel is attached to the heating apparatus by a unitary construction.

4. The invention according to claims 1 - 3 wherein the said formed convection panels comprises of a formation series of indentations of various sizes and structures.

5. The invention according to claims 1 - 4 wherein the said convection panel is attached to the said heating apparatus and mounted internally in the said outer casing.